MARGAO: The lack of seriousness of the successive governments on restoring the town's heritage building—the old Municipal building also known as Camara Municipal de Salcete at Old market continues to deteriorate.
Sources revealed that the land belongs to one private party. However, nobody from government’s side is taking up the issue seriously and negotiates a deal with the land owner, which left the heritage building in ruins, revealed the source.
Current Chairperson of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) Lyndon Pereira said that the process was held up due to fixing the price of the land.
"Certain prices were offered to the owner of the land on which the Camara is located but it did not go well. I have been told that the owner was urging for a market rate, and for which the move got stuck in the middle,” said Pereira.
The locals and the heritage lovers feel this would eventually wipe off one of the chapters of Margao history. The dilapidated building reminds everyone of September 21 firing during the Municipal elections of 1890, which were apparently rigged. The firing left people dead and injured.
Presently, 95 per cent portion of the building is completely damaged and collapsed due to its exposure to rains. Day by day and year by year the heritage Camara is noticed with more pathetic conditions. “The price negotiation for the land is delaying all the process further,” said the source.
September 21 is a very significant day in the history of not only Margao but the entire Goa as 131 years ago, in 1890, on this day 23 Goans were killed by the Portuguese rulers.
The municipal elections were scheduled on that day and there were allegations that the elections were rigged and people were denied their right to vote and as the murmurings increased, the Portuguese administrator directed his force to fire on them around 6,000 people gathered near Holy Spirit Church.
The incident claimed 17 lives on the spot including a woman, who was leaving the church, and a young boy who was playing at his house garden wall. Ultimately 23 people died in the firing that lasted for 20 minutes. The bullet marks can be seen even today at the house of Dr. Slavador Alvares. He has framed the marks with circular brass plaques.
Speaking to Herald former MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho, during whose tenure the first resolution for conservation of the heritage building was adopted way back in 2009, charged that nobody has taken up the issue seriously, and not received the importance it deserved.
“Sadly though, I find it truly disheartening to see how a piece of heritage is getting eliminated. The Old structure which once upon a time housed the Camara de Salcete, and has great historical significance should have been the preserved for posterity for our future generations,” he said.
Savio said that after continuously highlighting the neglect of the structure, once again the then TCP Minister and Fatorda MLA raised the matter in the assembly and declared that the place would be taken over for restoration. It is 4 years now, but the status still remains the same.
“Once again, as 21st September inscribed in the books of history is approaching, we hope that some serious thought comes to the minds of our representatives. We really fail to believe how our representatives are squandering the crore of rupees of Finance Commission grants on petty works, which legally don't fit in the prescribed guidelines of the commission. The grants could well be utilized for the restoration of this piece of history, which could generate revenue if a museum is set up there,” he said.
Reportedly, in 2018 again the MMC had taken a resolution to restore the heritage building, and it was sent to the government. The issue was also discussed on the floor of the house, and then Urban Minister Francisco D'Souza had assured full support to carry out the restoration works of the building with historic importance. But somehow it got stuck.
The proposal to restore the old municipal building had received a big boost a few years ago when historians Prajal Sakhardande, architects and citizens joined hands under the banner of the Save Margao Heritage Movement and vowed to take up with the government authorities for the restoration of the Camara.
Unfortunately, in recent times nobody from the municipality neither from the heritage lovers followed up the issue with the concerned authorities, resulting in the heritage building continuing in ruins. The conditions are now bad and getting worse.
Now, the citizens are of the opinion that no initiative from the government side and no required push by the Margao civic body will certainly result in the disappearance of the heritage building called Camara, with historical importance to dust.